With one last magic moment, DCE shows he’ll be a Hull of a big loss for the NRL

October 5, 2026 — 3:30pm

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Daly Cherry-Evans kicked 28 field goals in 352 games for Manly, many of them match-winners. To see him do it in a grand final for the Roosters would have evoked mixed feelings for the Sea Eagles, but seriously?

He gave so much to Manly, keeping them competitive year after year and week after week, often single-handedly (and double-footedly with those drop-kicks off his left or right), that it’s a bit amnesic to begrudge him the joy of going out a winner.

His recruitment, like Cooper Cronk’s in 2018, proved the difference for the Roosters in 2026. Fifteen years apart, Cherry-Evans owned two grand final nights. Hull have got a good one.

Are all clubs created equal?

The Roosters will just have to live with the fact that most of the rugby league community don’t believe they, already premiership contenders, were able to recruit Cherry-Evans and Reece Robson and remain under the salary cap.

I don’t think they’ll struggle with it. Another premiership trophy offers pretty warm comfort and a high hill to crow from. But in these polarising times, it’s difficult to imagine a grand final with two more divergent potential........

© The Age